Begin an unforgettable journey along the Peaks of the Balkans trail, one of Europe’s most spectacular long-distance hiking trails. This remote and rewarding circular trek spans approximately 192 km (119 miles) through the rugged mountain regions of Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, offering a rare opportunity to experience some of the continent’s last truly unspoiled wilderness. The route takes you across high alpine passes, deep valleys, and traditional villages, immersing you in the timeless culture of the Balkans.

Usually completed in 9-10 days, the trail suits fit experienced hikers but requires no technical skills. The Peaks of the Balkans trail is known for dramatic scenery, local hospitality, and the rare experience of crossing borders on foot. Written by award-winning travel writer Rudolf Abraham, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook is the essential resource for planning your trek.

  • Stage-by-stage route descriptions guide you through the Peaks of the Balkans in a circular loop, with 1:50,000-scale maps to help you navigate the dramatic landscapes of Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro with confidence.
  • The trail is divided into 10 stages, with advice on completing the route in 8 days for faster trekkers. Each stage connects mountain villages such as Valbona, Theth, Dobërdol, Plav, and Vusanje, giving you the flexibility to plan your journey around these key points.
  • Optional detours and side trips are included, such as visiting the Grbaja Valley from Plav, climbing Gjeravica or Hajla, or exploring classic highlights like Valbona Valley and Theth National Parks, so you can customise your adventure and discover more of the region’s standout locations.
  • Each stage details start and finish points, daily distances, elevation profiles, and accommodation options—such as guesthouses and mountain huts—in villages like Valbona, Theth, Plav, and Dobërdol, to help you shape your journey.
  • Downloadable GPX files provide digital navigation, allowing you to confidently follow the Peaks of the Balkans route on your smartphone or GPS device through some of the Balkans’ most spectacular mountain scenery.
  • Practical advice covers border crossings between Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, permits, transport to trailheads like Plav or Valbona, and local customs, ensuring a seamless experience along the international route.
  • The guide recommends hiking from June to September, when snow has cleared mountain passes such as Qafa e Pejës and guesthouses along the route, including in Theth, Valbona, and Dobërdol, are open to welcome travellers.

Plan your Peaks of the Balkans adventure with confidence and enjoy one of Europe’s most iconic multi-country hikes with this definitive guidebook.

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Guidebook to the Peaks of the Balkans Trail, a 192km trek through Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo. The route, which can comfortably be completed in less than a fortnight, is waymarked and covers terrain between 670m and 2300m in altitude, taking in remote valleys, dramatic mountain passes, stunning scenery and villages untouched by time.
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Map key Overview maps Route summary table Introduction Geography and geology Historical summary National parks and nature reserves Environmental issues Wildlife and plants Climate When to hike Getting there and around Accommodation and food Public holidays Language Money Phones, internet and electricity Cross-border permits Local tour operators Where to start/finish Variations, transfers and highlights Trail markings Maps Equipment Water Safety in the mountains and what to do in an emergency Using this guide The Peaks of the Balkans Trail Stage 1 Theth (Albania) – Valbona (Albania) Stage 2 Valbona (Albania) – Çeremi (Albania) via the Prosllopit Pass Stage 3 Çeremi (Albania) – Dobërdol (Albania) Stage 4 Dobërdol (Albania) – Milishevc (Kosovo) Stage 5 Milishevc (Kosovo) – Rekë e Allagës (Kosovo) Stage 6 Rekë e Allagës (Kosovo) – Drelaj or Restaurant Te Liqeni (Kosovo) Stage 7 Restaurant Te Liqeni (Kosovo) – Babino polje (Montenegro) Stage 8 Babino polje (Montenegro) – Plav (Montenegro) Stage 9 Plav (Montenegro) – Vusanje (Montenegro) Stage 10 Vusanje (Montenegro) – Theth (Albania) Appendix A Useful contacts Appendix B Accommodation Appendix C Further reading Appendix D Language and glossary Appendix E History timeline
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781786312310
Publisert
2025-04-09
Utgave
2. utgave
Utgiver
Cicerone Press
Vekt
190 gr
Høyde
172 mm
Bredde
116 mm
Dybde
10 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
168

Forfatter

Biografisk notat

Rudolf Abraham was born in London. Since graduating in 1995, he has traveled extensively in eastern Turkey, the south Caucasus, Iran and the Central Asian republics. He lived in Croatia from 1999 to 2001, working as an English teacher in Zagreb, and has made numerous trips into the mountains of Croatia and Slovenia. Previous titles for Cicerone include Walking in Croatia, The Islands of Croatia and The Mountains of Montenegro.